Shifting from Office to Home – Using Personality Dimensions® to Ease the Transition.

With many people working from home now, there has been a massive cultural shift in how we, as a society, conduct business! What hasn’t changed, though, is the personalities of the individuals behind the computer screen. With Personality Dimensions® the perk of understanding the different personalities helps us better understand how to engage people regardless of where they are. The other part we need to be aware of is the need to feel connected virtually.

Take for example, an Authentic Blue. Authentic Blues need to build and form relationships. With this need, we also need to be aware of the stressor of an Authentic Blue is the guilt that comes from not being able to, or feel connected. To support an Authentic Blue in this change in a workplace environment, I am sure they would appreciate phone calls, virtual meetings, or the ability to receive notes via mail from their colleagues. When I do say mail, I mean the traditional letter and the ability to open up a card and read with somebody putting pen to paper. Authentic Blues would appreciate this gesture!

For an Organized Gold the structure has now shifted. The other aspect that has changed is their work/life balance is now in Conflict as they are working from home and are trying to balance Both Worlds. They also want to make sure that their responsibilities are being kept intact. Organized Golds may also have with the disorganization that they’re noticing and realize now that they’re not able to connect with their colleagues as regularly as they would. Through these trying times, the best way to support an Organized Gold is to ensure that structure is maintained as much as possible – The structure in the organization of meetings and timelines are still being kept and upheld. Also, an Organized Gold would appreciate a “thank you” for all the hard work and dedication that they have made to ensure that their work is still completed on time.

Inquiring Greens are having an internal struggle if they are not accustomed to working from home. Inquiring Greens want to make sure they are knowledgeable on how to continue their work in a foreign territory for them. What an Inquiring Green may be noticing is the lack of competence in the initial stages of this change. Their patience may not be as present as they are hoping one area of their life; the workplace is a stable environment for them. From this focus, it is essential to ensure that the individuals that they are working with continue to have a higher level of standard. By keeping this high level of standard ensures that Inquiring Greens can be counted on to make sure that the job still is done.

Finally, the Resourceful Orange in this ever-changing climate is the one that can help. Resourceful Oranges are natural helpers in a crisis because they can comfortably deal with the expediency of change and working on little to no information. Resourceful Oranges do need and desire freedom and the ability to work on various tasks at different times. Because of their need for freedom, it is important to check-in on them to make sure that deadlines are met.

It is with all the four colours that we need these insights now more than ever. Each personality comes with great strengths. These great strengths being their ability to foster relationships, continue to be organized in a chaotic environment, the ability to uphold a level of standard, and be able to change within a crisis.

Dr. Drew Fockler supports all levels of leadership within an organization to grow their leadership and HR skills.  He is a Master Trainer (Level III) Personality Dimensions® Facilitator, Certified Vocational Rehabilitation Professional, Certified Life Coach, and Vocational Evaluator. He has received awards for his contributions towards the LGBT community and Toastmasters Leadership for British Columbia in 2017.

Drew holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts & Science, a Master’s Degree in Education and a Doctorate of Education from Western University where he utilized Personality Dimensions® as part of his Doctorate research in improving an employee’s experience.